“Part of it is perception on how well TransLink is spending their money. We need to do better to explain that.”

ON EDUCATION

Polak lives in Willoughby and is all too aware of the school overcrowding issue and says the area will need more schools, beyond the two currently under construction.

There are only three school districts that are growing and Langley is one of them.

“But there are pockets of heavy growth and areas of decline and it’s difficult to manage by adjusting boundaries and projecting enrolment.”

As a Surrey school trustee from 1996 to 2005, she said it was under the NDP that the biggest cuts took place. What has happened under the Liberals is there are simply less students enrolling and less need for teachers, librarians and special needs educators.

“The main thing is our student outcomes are phenomenal. Very rarely do I hear the Langley Teachers Association talk about that. Our Grade 4s are scoring well and are world leaders in reading and writing outcomes.”

ON THE BUDGET

“The books are there, there are no secrets,” said Polak to the NDP’s claim the Liberals aren’t being truthful about balancing the budget.

“Our credit rating has maintained in good standing even with the 2008 downturn in the economy. We always meet our targets.” She holds the party line that the Liberal party is the only one that will be fiscally responsible and keep the economy going.

ON THE PACIFIC CARBON TRUST

“It’s a different world now where the economy recognizes there is a price on carbon. Carbon offsets became a commodity. It’s a new field we are in, but overall I support it,” she said.

She said it has led several school districts to save more than they spend in paying carbon credits.